42 ‘eco labs’ in U’khand to monitor changes in forests

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand forest department has established 42 field-based "ecological laboratories" across the state to monitor changes in its forests, which are being influenced by climate change. These labs will provide crucial data on the impact of erratic climate patterns, including early flowering in species such as rhododendrons and Brahmakamal.TOI had previously reported that unusually high temperatures in Uttarakhand, soaring beyond 42°C in recent summers, had affected the quality of the Dehraduni and Ramnagar litchis. The ideal temperature for litchis should not exceed 40.5°C. However, the extreme heat left the fruits less juicy, with many appearing cracked and burnt. Similarly, rhododendrons, which typically bloom between Jan and March, have shown an abnormal blooming cycle in the Himalayan state—with flowers appearing both before and after their natural season. Experts warn that this irregularity could be linked to the loss of medicinal properties in the species.N Bala, a senior scientist in the department of ecology and climate change at the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Uttarakhand, highlighted the importance of these ecological laboratories. "To better understand the effects of climate change, we need these labs -- or conservation plots -- which can be revisited every five years to maintain a continuous record of forest changes. Without this data, it's impossible to comprehend the ongoing transformations or to implement effective mitigation strategies," he said.The ecological laboratories, also called "living laboratories," are distributed across various ecosystems, from the Terai region to alpine meadows, covering over 250 hectares (ha) of forest land. Each plot ranges from 5 to 10 hectares in size and has been carefully located in remote areas to minimise external environmental influences such as human activity or potential infrastructure development. As directed by Dhananjai Mohan, Uttarakhand's head of Forest Force (HoFF) and principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), these areas cannot be used for non-forest activities."These laboratories will be analysed every four years in the plains and every five years in the hills, based on 13 parameters. These include phenological changes, biodiversity indices, species migration, ecological succession, climate variations within the laboratories, carbon sequestration, and carbon stock, among others," said Sanjiv Chaturvedi, chief conservator of forests (research wing). Authorities said this is the first time that the forest teams have developed a comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOP) to analyse each parameter in detail.Uttarakhand, which is home to 46 distinct forest types, is expected to make significant contributions to global climate change research.